Album Review

Logic – Bobby Tarantino II

By: Kyle Gambla

Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, better known by his stage name “Logic”, is an American rapper, singer/songwriter, and producer. Logic, (who earlier in his career went by “Psychological”), was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland, where he had a rough upbringing. He talks openly about how his mother was never there for him, and how he only felt a little close with his father. Both of Logic’s parents struggled with drug problems, and this is reflected in a lot of his music. Logic’s first project came in 2009 and was titled Logic: The Mixtape. It began to receive attention from an audience that would later become his cult. In 2010 he released another mixtape titled Young, Broke, and Infamous. He then signed with Visionary Music Group before releasing three more mixtapes over the next three years. Logic’s first studio album was released in October of 2014 and debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200, eventually becoming certified gold and selling more than 171,000 copies. Needless to say, Logic’s career has been a quick and steady climb since his breaking into music much earlier in life.

Logic’s third studio album, Everybody (which came out in 2017), was his first work to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. His hit song from the album, “1-800-273-8255”, was an eye-opener for people who hadn’t heard of Logic. He proved himself not to be just a rapper with quick and catchy verses, but also an artist who produced pieces with real meaning that could connect with a large audience. In March of 2018 Logic released his sixth mixtape, Bobby Tarantino II, a sequel to his 2016 mixtape. It also landed and number one on the Billboard 200, selling 119,000 equivalent album units in the first week alone.

Bobby Tarantino II is proof that Logic is not to be underestimated in future projects. He has officially locked in his spot in the modern music industry, and he will remain there for years to come. This album has seen Logic love up to his name by taking music in directions that most mainstream artists are not willing to go. He discusses mental health, race, sexuality, and everything else no one wants to talk about. He preaches that everything in your life is on purpose, and that there are no mistakes in who you are, all the while using strong beats and good flow. I enjoyed this whole album, but if I had to choose my top three pieces I would say (in no particular order): “Indica Badu”, “State of Emergency”, and “Everyday”. These songs are good party songs and just great to jam to. All three of these songs are very lyrical and have great beats.